BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a rare, chronic blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes with severe morbidity and occasional mortality. The clinical data of Korean pemphigus patients are quite limited, and an appropriate treatrnent regimen is not yet established. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to analyze the clinical characteristics of, and establish an appropriate treatment regimen for Korean pemphigus patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 24 pemphigus patients seen between 1992 and 1996. RESULTS: Pemphigus vulgaris(PV) was the most common type with 17 cases, followed by seven cases of pemphigus foliaceus(PF). There were no sexual preferences, and the average age at onset for PV and PF was 46 and 50 years old, respectively. Mucosal involvement was noted in 14 cases(82%) of PV and only in one case(14/o) of PF. There was no correlation between the extent of involvement and the titer of anti ICS(intercellular substance) antibody. Most patients received prednisolone of lmg/kg, and 12 PV patients also received immunosuppressive agents. Systemic side effects were noted in 10 cases of PV, and seven PF cases did not manifest any systemic side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations and results of imrnunofluorescent studies of 24 Korean pemphigus patients were similar to those of the previous studies. For treatment of pemphigus, the lowest possible doses(less than 1mg/kg) of corticosteroid in combination with immunosuppressive agents appears to be more effective and less toxic than high doses of corticosteroid. We propose a regimen for treatment of Korean pemphigus patients based on these experiences. Further rnulti-center clinical trials are advocated to confirm an effective management protocol for Korean pemphigus patients.
Blister ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Mucous Membrane ; Pemphigus* ; Prednisolone ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin

The colonial rule of Imperial Japan had victimized many Koreans including tens of thousands of forced -laborers whose bodies were left abandoned all over Japan. Their deaths have been treated as statistical numbers in historical records. Today, even though half a century has passed, the excavation of their skeletons and the reconstruction of their forgotten lives as persons become important humanitarian tasks not only for the memories of the Koreans, but also for the meaningful reconciliation and peace among the East -Asian people. For conducting the historical tasks, physical anthopological knowledge emerges as an essential tool for identifying the victims and searching for their relatives. In August, 1997, a group of Korean scholars and college students conducted an excavation in Hokkaido, with the collaboration of the local Japanese groups, to find the remains of victims of a dam construction site. They excavated the skeletons of 4 victims in the bush near the site and have searched for their relatives in Korea. This project has some significant anthopological meanings. By taking the initiative and providing professional knowledge, the Korean scholors reversed the usual one -sided direction of the research: the imperial center and the colonial periphery, the offenders and the victims, and the researchers and the subjects. By taking international and interdisciplinary approach, the project established firm bases for comprehensive reconstruction of the skeletons as historical persons and for the mutual understanding of the hidden past.
Anthropology, Physical* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cooperative Behavior ; Criminals ; Humans ; Japan* ; Korea ; Skeleton ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

No abstract available.
Pneumoconiosis* ; Thorax*

Osteoporosis causes a decrease in bone mineral density. To overcome the decrease in fixation strength, a variety of techniques and devices have been developed, including cement augmentation of pedicle screws. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), is commonly known as bone cement, and is widely used for implant fixation in various orthopaedic and spine surgery. In general, PMMA augmentation of pedicle screws is simple and safe if performed with technical precautions. PMMA is a safe agent, but it may rarely lead to significant foreign body reactions. In this report, we present a patient who developed bone cement-related epidural space foreign body granuloma
Osteoporosis

No abstract available.
Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Korea*

To investigate the correlation between urinary growth hormone(GH) level and peak serum GH level, urinary GH value measured by overnight collection of urine for 10 hours and serum GH value in response to GH provocation test using insulin and L-dopa were measured in 9 cases of GH complete deficiency(GCD), 19 cases of GH partial deficiency(GPD) and 40 cases of GH normal short stature(GHN). Urinary GH values were measured by the EIA method using PICOIA HGH plate(Joo Woo Pharmaceutical Co., Japan). Urinary GH was expressed in terms of nanograms per gm creatinine(ng/gCr). Serum GH was measured by immunoradiometric assay using "Daiichi kit"(Je Il Pharmaceutical Co., Japan). Wilcoxon ranked sum test and student's t-test were used to assess the significance of differences between the groups of the patients. The correlation between urinary GH level and peak serum GH level was assessed by the parametric Pearson correlation test. The correlation between peak serum GH level in GH provocation test using insulin and urinary GH level measured by overnight 10 hours collection method showed statistically significant results in all the patients(Y=0.464072X +9.208044, r=0.48987, p=0.0001) and in the GH deficiency groups(GCD+GPD) (Y=0.924659X +9.2385509, r=0.80437, p=0.0001). In case of L-dopa stimulation test, urinary GH values were also positively correlated with peak serum GH level when all the patients were participated(Y=0.572988X +8.312993, r=0.58212, p=0.0001). In contrast, no correlation was found when patients were confined to GH deficiency group(GCD+GPD)(Y=0.127712X +8.3129939, r=0.08044, p=0.6841).
Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Insulin ; Levodopa ; Methods

46,XX male is a rare abnormality of sex determination with an incidence of 1 in 20,000 male neonates. The clinical manifestations of 46,XX males are usually hypogonadism, gynecomastia, azoospermia, and hyalinations of seminiferous tubules, with altered hormonal levels at puberty. Less frequently, some sexual ambiguities are found, always with sterility owing to reduced testicular development. The origin of male phenotype in 46,XX male could be the results of at least three different mechanisms:translocations of Y sequence, including the SRY gene, to an X chromosome or to an autosome(about 90% of cases); a mutation in a yet unknown X-linked or autosomal gene in the testis-determinating pathway, and cryptic Y chromosome mosacism. We experienced a case of SRY-positive 46,XX male in a 21-year-old man with small testes. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol 2003;8:184-188)
Adolescent ; Azoospermia ; Genes, sry ; Gynecomastia ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infertility ; Male* ; Phenotype ; Puberty ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis ; X Chromosome ; Y Chromosome ; Young Adult

46,XX male is a rare abnormality of sex determination with an incidence of 1 in 20,000 male neonates. The clinical manifestations of 46,XX males are usually hypogonadism, gynecomastia, azoospermia, and hyalinations of seminiferous tubules, with altered hormonal levels at puberty. Less frequently, some sexual ambiguities are found, always with sterility owing to reduced testicular development. The origin of male phenotype in 46,XX male could be the results of at least three different mechanisms:translocations of Y sequence, including the SRY gene, to an X chromosome or to an autosome(about 90% of cases); a mutation in a yet unknown X-linked or autosomal gene in the testis-determinating pathway, and cryptic Y chromosome mosacism. We experienced a case of SRY-positive 46,XX male in a 21-year-old man with small testes. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol 2003;8:184-188)
Adolescent ; Azoospermia ; Genes, sry ; Gynecomastia ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infertility ; Male* ; Phenotype ; Puberty ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis ; X Chromosome ; Y Chromosome ; Young Adult

Nine patients of clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.0T. The MS plaques were seen in the brain and spinal cord in eight and three patients. respectively. The frequent sites of MS plaques were periventricular white matter, brain stem, and cervical cord. The shape of most brain MS plaques was round or finger-like configuration. The MS plaques showed high signal intensity on R2 weighted images and low or iso signal intensity on T1 weighted images in all nine cases. Contrast enhancement was seen in 4 cases. Mild brain atrophy was noted in 2 cases and mass effect in 1 case. The sites of cord MS plaques in three patients were C2-C4, C2-C5, and C4-C6 levels respectively. The cord MS plaques showed high signal intensity on T2 weighted image and contrast enhancement on Gd-DTPA enhanced T1 weighted images in all 3cases with mild cord expansion in 2 cases. In conclusion, MRI is a useful diagnostic tool in evaluationg the MS plaques involving central nervous system.
Atrophy ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Central Nervous System ; Cervical Cord ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Spinal Cord ; White Matter

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is rare but freuently fatal complication of renal parenchymal infection, mostcommonly occurs in diabetic patients and is often associated with urinary obstruction, prior urologicalabnormality or infection. From 1898 to 1984 , about 50 cases of empysematous pyelonephritis have been reporteduniversally. The diaignosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis can be made only roentgenographically. In the last 2years, we have had two cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis at our hospital. It is our purpose to report twopatients who have survived wtih a brief review of the previous literature.
Humans ; Pyelonephritis